The Federal Court has ordered Beijing-owned mining giant MMG to pay Bob Brown Foundation’s costs following the ruling that the Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek had to reconsider Commonwealth approval of MMG’s preliminary works to build a toxic waste dump in the takayna / Tarkine rainforest which is habitat for the endangered Tasmanian Masked Owl.
“This is the reasonable outcome,” Bob Brown said today.
“MMG should never have invaded this rainforest without full diligence on the impact that would have on these giant owls which depend on the takayna forest. MMG has options for waste disposal from the Rosebery mine but the owls have no options”.
“It is a big risk for a community group like ours to take on a global mining corporation but the former Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, sold out her portfolio responsibilities when she gave MMG the nod. Everyone now expects the new minister, Tanya Plibersek, to rectify Ley’s mistake and refuse MMG’s request for its machines to go back into takayna.”
“We will put MMG’s payment into the ongoing campaign to save Tasmania’s forests and wildlife, in particular, the World Heritage value takayna rainforests and wildlife.”
The judgement and orders can be found here.
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